Hanauma Bay
Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), established in 1967, was the first
MLCD in Hawai‘i. Established to conserve and replenish marine
resources, MLCDs provide fish and other marine life with a protected area in
which they can grow and reproduce. While state laws restrict the
taking of all marine life within the Hanauma Bay MLCD, snorkeling, diving,
underwater photography, and other similar passive activities are allowed.

The Place Name Hanauma

Hanauma
pronounced "ha now ma" is a Hawaiian word that can have several meanings.
Originally, the Hawaiian language was not a written language. It was passed
down orally through song, dance, stories and legends from one generation to
the next. This oral transmission resulted in some changes and loss of place
names. Place names frequently described a salient landmark or feature or may
describe an important historical event.

In place
names, hana refers to a bay or valley. Uma can have multiple meanings:

1) Uma can refer to a curve, as in the natural geological formation of the
crescent shape of the bay.

2) Another meaning refers to the sport of
hand-wrestling, uma, where opponents knelt with elbows on the ground and
right hands locked together and tried to force the other down. Hanauma Bay
was known as a place where ali‘i the ruling class would gather to play uma
as well as other recreational activities.

3) The stern of a canoe is also
known by the term uma. Traditional Hawaiian navigators would ride a strong
current across the Ka‘iwi Channel from Ilio Point on Moloka‘i to Hanauma Bay
with relatively little effort.

Hanauma Bay
was known as a favorite fishing spot for ali‘i, Hawaiian royalty. King
Kamehameha V used the bay often for fishing. Queen Ka‘ahumanu would visited
for a month at a time. Hula dancers entertained the ali‘i and sports and
games were enjoyed there.

When sailing
canoes inter-island from O‘ahu to Moloka‘i, Hawaiians would often use
Hanauma Bay as a stop over in the voyage from Honolulu on O‘ahu to Moloka‘i.
In times of foul weather or high winds since the Ka‘iwi or Moloka‘i Channel
can be one of the roughest in the world, this served as a safe refuge until
fairer weather conditions prevailed. The navigator would climb to Kuamo‘o o
Kane, the ridge on the west side of Hanauma to assess the strength and
direction of the winds.

Historic
Events:

Hanauma Bay
was designated a Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) in 1967. This is
an area that the State of Hawai‘i set aside to protect marine life. It is
governed by State statutes, Regulation 32. It states that it is unlawful to
fish, possess fishing gear, remove any marine organisms or contaminate the
waters within the conservation district. This law is enforced by the
Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Prior to
1967, most types of fishing was allowed in the bay. It was a popular fishing
and camp grounds for people from Honolulu. By the 1960’s fish stocks began
to decline from the heavy fishing pressure. A University of Hawai‘i marine
biologist, Dr. Ernst Reese had proposed that the bay be set aside as a
natural, living museum. Many fishermen protested this idea for fear of
setting a precedent to close other traditional fishing grounds. An
underwater survey was conducted by Chapman Lam and the data gathered was
used to convince the State Legislature to designate the site as a MLCD.

Legends

Many legends
were told of Hanauma Bay. Legends were often expressed in the form of
traditional songs, chants and dance. One love story recants the tale of two
very powerful ali‘i or chiefs. They were both experts in the sport of uma or
hand-wrestling. This sport tested the strength of the participants by
locking hands and forcing the opponent to the ground.

Ali‘i Koko
(blood) and Ali‘i Hana (work, act) both fell deeply in love with the most
beautiful maiden in Hawai‘i, Keohinani. Her father was the guardian of
Hanauma Bay, Keanamo‘o, the great lizard. Her hand in marriage was to be
decided by a contest of strength and perseverance to determine their
nobility. All day the two men struggled to prove their greatness yet each
was equally strong. As the twilight began to fall the score remained even in
match after match.

Keohinani
loved both men and it pained her to see their suffering and loss of dignity.
As the contest continued she climbed to the top of the crater. As she
climbed, ascending closer to the gods she called to the akua. "Transform me
into a hill so the pain and suffering will be over". Instantly, she was
transformed into part of the crater, to the hill today called "fair
mountain", Kohelepelepe, where the modern day radar station stands. Her
unselfish deed allowed her suitors to gaze with awe upon her beauty and
innocence forever.

Her father,
deeply moved and pleased by his daughter’s humble act of kindness
transformed himself into the crater rim above her that encircles Hanauma
Bay. These two inter-twined ridges remind us today of the locked arms of the
sport of uma that gave rise to the crater rims of Hanauma Bay.

Archaeology

In 1931 a
Bishop Museum survey was conducted by J.G. McAllister. Several sites were
identified and relocated.

Site 44:
Located on the Sandy Beach side of "toilet bowl" this cave contained several
petroglyphs

Site 45:
Located on Kohelepelepe Ridge is a platform not located at this time

Site 46:
Located near the waters edge this is a stone fishing shrine

Site 47 and
48: Located on the Honolulu side of Koko Head are two fishing shrines, each
about 17 feet square

Site 49:
Kuapa or Keahupua o Maunalua fishpond recorded by Webster in 1851 as 523
acres in size. Recorded by Mathison in 1922 as having a village of 100 huts
on the shores of the fishpond.

In 1952, a
cave below the cliff of Hanauma Bay was excavated by Dr. Kenneth Emory of
the University of Hawai‘i. Approximately 210 sq. ft. of the Hanauma Shelter
Cave (Site 80-15-03) was excavated. Fishing-related artifacts indicated use
of the cave by early Hawaiians as a temporary shelter while fishing and
collecting from the Bay. This shelter was placed on the Hawai‘i Register of
Historic Places in 1971.

In 1980,
Robert D. Connolly was commissioned by the City and County of Honolulu to
conduct a archaeological reconnaissance survey of the beach park. No
prehistoric cultural remains were found within the beach area.

Geology of Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay
is part of the Ko‘olau mountain range that was formed on the east side of
the island of O‘ahu. Subsequent to the end of the volcanic activity that
formed the main range, the north-east side of the crater collapsed and fell
into the sea, leaving the Pali cliff-line as evidence of this giant
landslide. After the eruptions that formed the Ko‘olaus there was a period
of volcanic quiet lasting for at least two million years.

More than 30
separate eruptions flowed out over the eroded landscape and onto the
fringing reef about half a million years ago when rejuvenation-stage
volcanism occurred. This "Honolulu Series" of flows gave rise to many
salient geologic features on O‘ahu including Diamond Head, Punchbowl and
Hanauma Bay.

The flows
that formed the craters of Hanauma Bay began about 40,000 years ago. Hanauma
Bay is a compound crater formed by at least six separate cones. The Hanauma
Bay craters are nested in another earlier crater. One of the latest stages
of volcanics includes the Koko Crater. Nine eruptions along the Koko fissure
occurred over the next several thousand years following the initial
outbreaks of these late stage eruptions. The cratered cones of Hanauma Bay
were built by hydromagmatic explosion of the Surtseyan type. The open vent
was underwater and as a result of contact with the water, the magma was
finely fragmented resulting in the predominately ash cones. This type of
explosion produces fine ash that settles onto land, and due to the chemical
reaction of the material becomes firmly cemented in place. This hardened ash
is refereed to as tuff, forming the tuff cones of Hanauma Bay. These violent
explosions blasted through a previously established coral reef. White
fragments of limestone imbedded within the consolidated ash from the
underlying reef can be seen in the walls of tuff today. Research indicates
the formation of the reef approximately 32,000 years ago. Black basaltic
fragments and olivine crystals can also be seen in the crater walls and the
sands of the bay. A olivine beach is evident in the "Toilet Bowl" section of
the bench. The mineral olivine is found in areas of geologically recent
volcanic activity.

Sea cliffs
were formed from erosion of the crater walls of Hanauma Bay. The sea cliffs
of the bay were formed as extensive wave action and weathering undercut the
tuff causing large areas to fall into the sea or on the underlying bench
below. This bench developed below the cliffs and ranges from 1- to 6 meters
above sea level. This coastal bench formation was exposed to wave action.
The waves protected the bench from desiccation. Salt weathering was the
major factor in the retreat of the cliff wall. Thus the bench formed as a
result of the retreat and degradation of the adjacent cliff rather than from
the exposure to waves.

Hanauma Bay
is diverse in marine habitats. Tidepools are evident in shallow waters at
the reef edge. The reef at Hanauma Bay is a fringing reef, one that grows
along the shoreline. As elsewhere in Hawai‘i, the greatest contributor to
the reefs are calcareous red algae that secrete a hard material cementing
accreted substances to the underlying substrate. The back reef area is
located near the sandy beach and is composed largely of sand or coral
rubble. This reef flat has been extensively modified by anthropogenic
activity. Photographs by Chester K. Wentworth depicting the coral cover in
1926 are evidence of the decline in coral cover on the inner reef flat. The
fore reef or reef front protects the beach from erosion by absorbing most of
the wave energy. A spur and groove region creates channels to further
dissipate the wave force. The deeper reefs with more extensive coral cover
extend out to the mouth of the bay to 30 meter depths.

Historical Timeline and Photos of Hanauma Bay:

Located
within Koko Head Park, the 100 acre Hanauma Bay marine life conservation
district attracts 1.2 million visitors annually. In 1977 a survey revealed
68% of park users were kama‘aina, residents of O‘ahu. By 1988, that number
had dropped to less than 30%. Management controls restricting the offloading
of tour bus passengers was institutes in 1993? has decreased the number of
visitors to the bay. click here to see how many visitors Hanauma Bay has
received in recent years.

Presently,
about 15% of the bay‘s users are Hawai‘i residents and 85% are tourists. In
recent years the city has considered charging fees for entry to Hanauma Bay.
In response, KSBE has claimed that such fees may violate the original
conveyance terms for the Koko Head area.

1928

Ownership of Hanauma Bay and Koko Head District Park
transferred from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate to the City and County of Honolulu. The deed specified the area to be used as public recreational
and public access. The Bishop Estate sold the leasehold area for one dollar.

1931

In October of this year, Kalanianaole Highway was opened to
the public. This provided a coastal link from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach.

1950

The State bus system, Honolulu Rapid Transit (HRT), was
extended to include Hanauma Bay. This trial route was established for
weekends and holidays only.

A beach access road was constructed by the County Parks Dept.
to allow access to the beach for both the public and maintenance crews.

Restrooms, showers and three swimming holes were added during
a park improvement project.

1951

The Honolulu Rapid Transit System permanently adds the
Hanauma Bay extension route to provide bus service to the park on weekends
and holidays.

1952

5-26-1952: Aerial Image of Koko Marina.

A University of Hawai‘i archaeological survey was conducted.
The excavated Hanauma Bay
shelter cave revealed remains that suggested this site was used
as a fishing shelter in the past.

1953

Public safety and traffic congestion forced the closure of
the beach access road. This is later revised due to public outcry, allowing
limited access on weekdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Drop off of camping
gear, passengers and recreational equipment were allowed but all vehicles
were required to park in the parking lot.

1956

A report by the City Parks Superintendent was released. It
stated that 50,000 people annually had used the Bay in each of the years
from 1950 to 1956. Prior use had been documented as 8,000 people a year.

A 200 foot wide channel is cut through the coral reef by
Hawaiian Dredging to lay the first stage of an underwater telephone cable
linking Hawai‘i and the West-Coast. Costs exceed $18,000. The dynamite
blasting of the reef and construction equipment forced the closure of the
Bay to the public.

In November of this year, construction of the project is
completed and Hanauma Bay is reopened for public use.

1963

1-14-1963 Aerial Images of Hanauma
Bay and nearby Koko Marina.

1964

A proposal to establish a marine sanctuary and underwater
park is submitted by the State Fish and Game Division.

1966

The beach concession stand is opened.

1967

In October of this year, Hanauma Bay is officially designated
a Marine Life Conservation District by the Board of Land and Natural
Resources. The conservation status makes it illegal to fish or remove any
marine life or other marine resources from the Bay.

A survey of the fish populations is conducted by the Hawai‘i
Cooperative Fisheries Unit.

The Hawai‘i Council of Diving Clubs proposes that the Bay be
designated as an underwater park. The proposal includes complete mapping of
the Bay and a beach pavilion to display charts of the Bay.

1968

2-8-1968 Aerial Images of Hanauma
Bay and Koko Marina.

The City Parks Dept. releases plans for erosion control and
beach improvement. In November of this year, plans were approved by the State
Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, the Dept. of Transportation and the
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Permits were not issued at this time.

1969

The Division of Aquatic Resources begins conducting fish
surveys of the Bay.

1970

Increased concerns of erosion led to speculation by City
Officials that beach erosion was caused by wave action attributed to the
transpacific cable trench. Plans were made to create a 100 x 15 foot
underwater boulder wall to lessen impact to the beach. A new swimming area
and a passage through the reef for divers was also planned.

Beach restoration was to be implemented by the addition of
4,000 cubic ft. of sand.

Due to increased concerns of siltation and beach erosion, the
City Dept. of Parks and Recreation began the erosion control and park
improvement project. The $110,000 project did not obtain the necessary
permits to begin the work. The work was started in April but soon halted
until permits were secured.

The permit was approved by the Army Corp of Engineers and
construction resumed in May.

The Dept. of Land and Natural Resources was appropriated
$50,000 by the Legislature for restoration of the Bay.

The State‘s Dept. of Land and Natural Resources plans a
kiosk, public safety signs and buoys to be installed with Legislature
appropriation of $50,000.

Surveys, and mapping of underwater trails are conducted by
the University of Hawai‘i‘s Marine Option Program in preparation of
underwater guided tours and a specimen showcase.

1973

"The Ocean: Hawai‘i‘s Last Frontier" conference is held in
March. Following the suggestion of underwater trail markers suggested at the
conference, the City Parks and Recreation Dept. and the Marine Option
Program begin basic snorkeling classes and guided underwater tours for a fee
in April. Classes and tours are offered daily during the summer.

1974

The kiosk display featuring marine life in Hanauma Bay is
installed by the State Parks Division.

1977

The Hanauma Bay Beach Park Site Development Plan and Report
is presented to the City and County of Honolulu‘s Dept. of Parks and
Recreation.

1978

1-6-1978: Aerial Images of Hanauma
Bay and Koko Marina.

A new permit was issued by the Dept. of Parks and Recreation
to control use of beach access road by commercial tour operators and the
public. The City is absolved of and liability by permit holders. Permit
holders may drop off recreational gear only. Passengers are no longer
allowed to be dropped off or picked up from beach.

1979

Shuttle service begins to transport passengers from the
parking lot to the beach. A five year contract was issued to a
concessionaire and all previous contracts with dive tour operators are
cancelled.

1980

Increasing numbers of visitors to Hanauma Bay prompt a
million dollar park improvement project. Services include drainage, a new
access road, parking lot expansion, and picnic areas, landscaping and
lighting.

1981

To limit the use of the Bay, the Board of Land and Natural
Resources restricts parking stalls to 390 spaces.

Commercial operators agree to limit visitor trips to the Bay
on weekends to alleviate overcrowding problems. A total ban is suggested for
all commercial activities in the Bay.

1982

In response to DLNR pressure, the City imposes a ban on
commercial activity. The Board of Land and Natural Resources fines the City
$2,000 for failure to enforce the ban against commercial operators on
Conservation Lands in Hanauma Bay.

A sewage spill in June forces closure of the Bay for 8 days.
Periodic cesspool overflow had been occurring with the knowledge of the
City.

1983

Commercial operators require permits that they protest are
too expensive.

The City‘s $1.4 million dollar project begins in March to
construct additional picnic areas, relocate a 200 stall parking lot and
second access road and turnaround area for buses and vans.

In April, commercial scuba diving and snorkeling is allowed.
The Conservation District use permit restricts the numbers to 130 divers at
a time. This number is based on 10% of the City‘s estimated carrying
capacity of 1,350 people.

In November, a symposium on Hanauma Bay is held. City
officials release use figures. Numbers have increased 10 fold from 1970 to
1981 from 210,000 to 2,000,000 visitors annually.

1984

A concessionaire is award the contract to sell food and rent
snorkeling equipment at the pavilion.

The $1.4 million dollar park improvement project is completed
and an additional 120 stall parking lot is added.

1986

A permit to conduct hiking tours along the rim of Hanauma Bay
is approved by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources. Outdoors
Hawai‘i may bring in no more than 15 people and 2 vehicles daily.

1987

Aquamatics proposes to expand shuttle service between Waikīkī
hotels and Hanauma Bay.

Public opposition halts a bill proposing parking fees to
support additional facilities and employees.

A ten-member task force was developed to make recommendations
by the end of the year on the Bay‘s physical and environmental limits. The
committee never released any report, findings or proposal.

The City and County of Honolulu banned smoking on the beach
at Hanauma Bay.

1995

Entrance fees for non-residents are established.

1999

The architectural firm Group 70, hired by the City and County
of Honolulu, unveils improvement plans at the Hawai‘i Kai district board
meeting. Plans include relocating all Hanauma Bay parking to the vacated Job
Corp site, reinstating the military cable car to the top of Koko crater, a
visitors center, snack bars, a trolley system across Kalanianaole Highway to
Hanauma Bay, and a topside aquarium exhibit at Hanauma Bay. These are
planned to alleviate usage of the bay by distributing visitors to other
areas. Mandatory snorkeling introductions will be given to first time users.

Dr. Richard Brock of Sea Grant is hired by the City to
conduct a carrying capacity study of Hanauma Bay.

Fish feeding is banned in the bay.

Management Concerns:

Hanauma Bay
has experienced very high levels of human use over the past 35 years.
Primary impacts have been through fish feeding, trampling of corals, and
structural change of the reef through the installation of a submarine cable.
Areas of management concern include the impact of visitors on the reef and
biota, the impact of fish feeding , and the "carrying capacity" in visitor
numbers of the site.

Number of visitors at Hanauma Bay.

The figure
above is based on headcounts at approximately two hour intervals taken by
water safety officers over an eight hour work day. Data is from June 1 to
May 31 for each year. Source: Hawai‘i State Data Books (1970-2000). These
data may be somewhat unreliable as the counts are not exact and are taken by
different water safety officers.

In 1975 68%
of visitors were local residents while that percentage in 1990 was 13% (Sano
1990).

On April 28,
1999 the City Council approved funding of a $100,000 study of the park‘s
capacity to handle visitors. Dr. Richard Brock of the University of Hawai‘i
Sea Grant Program will conduct the research over the coming year. A ban on
fish feeding at Hanauma Bay was to become effective on April 15, 1999, but
the city and State of Hawai‘i agreed to delay enforcement for approximately 3
months so that Dr. Brock can measure the "before" and "after: effects as
part of his study. Aquatic Biologist Alton Miyasaka of the DLNR expects that
the following changes will occur when feeding is curtailed:

Fish
populations will shift away from nenue (rudder fish) and pualu (surgeonfish)
that thrive on artificial food supply and currently dominate the inshore
reef.

The nenue
and pualu will be replaced by more colorful weke (goatfish), parrotfish,
butterflyfish and damselfish.

There may be
a decline in numbers of fishes, but reduction in larger fishes may be made
up by increases in number of smaller fishes.

Because the
change will be gradual, no mass die-offs of any kind are expected. The
numbers of eels, which feed on other fish, may also gradually decline.

Human Use Patterns:

Utilities

The Board of
Water Supply services the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Koko Head Reservoir
405 has a capacity of 200,000 gallons and also serves the surrounding
Portlock community. A 2,400 foot, 8 inch pipe transects the west ridgeline
of the crater.

Electric and
telephone lines run overhead down the cliff to the restrooms and concession
below. Four public telephones and 9 business phones are located in the beach
area. These service the lifeguard stand, the concessions, the visitors
center and the caretaker’s house.

Wastewater

Hanauma Bay
Preserve contains four restroom buildings. The regional wastewater system is
processed at the Hawai‘i Kai Sewage Treatment Plant across from Sandy Beach.
Effluent from the plant is discharged through an offshore outfall extending
3,000 feet off Sandy Beach. This secondary sewage treatment is released in
35 feet of water.

Status (Degree of Legal Protection):

Marine Life
Conservation District.

Noteworthy Biota or Ecological Conditions

Terrestrial Plants

Two main
zones divided the beach park. The surrounding cliffs and ridges have climate
typical of island windward regions. Hot and dry with shallow soil prevent
the growth of most flora. This region includes the introduced Australian
saltbush, Bermuda grass, Kiawe, Koa haole, coconut palms, banyan trees and
hialoa. The shoreline region include the halophyllic vegetation tolerant to
salt spray like the native ilima, naupaka and pohu‘ehu‘e. Various introduced
grasses were planted above the high tide line.

An endemic
fern, Marsillea villosa can be found on the flats above the cliff
above witches brew. This plant has been placed on the endangered species
list. It reproduces only in times of heavy rainfall.

Wildlife

Introduced
mice, rats, mongoose, insects and lizards inhabit the area. Common
introduced birds include pigeons, mynahs, doves, sparrows and cardinals.
Feral cats can also be found in the area.

Economic Value and Social Benefits:

In 1995, the
City Council of the City and County of Honolulu passed ordinance 95-36 which
placed a $5 admission charge on non-Hawai‘i residents over the age of 13. The
ordinance went into effect July 1, 1995.

In 1996 the
City Council amended these rules by implementing a voluntary donation system
where non-Hawai‘i residents over the age of 13 are now charged $3 to enter
the bay and everyone is charged $1 to park in the parking lot above the bay.
The ordinance went into effect on April 25, 1996. Parking fees are also
charged to tour buses.